Second Suffren-class nuclear submarine delivered to French Navy
Duguay-Trouin SSN is expected to begin pre-commissioning trials soon. (Photo: DGA)
The announcement of the late July delivery was made by the Ministry of Armed Forces on 10 August and the process of further sea trials, evaluation and a lengthy deployment will now begin before the eventual commissioning of the boat.
The sea trials before handover began in March and included evaluation of the nuclear propulsion system and performance at a range of speeds and depths.
Specifically the tests included a static dive, or immersion without propelled movement, to check the stability of the submarine; surface and diving tests; safety and operation of the installations, including its nuclear boiler room; and diving tests to verify the operation of its combat system, including its ability to implement its weapons and communicate.
Related Articles
France’s first Barracuda-class submarine enters service
These tests were led by the DGA in conjunction with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission and in close partnership with the French Navy and Naval Group and TechnicAtome.
The service’s first of class, Suffren, was commissioned into service in June 2022, 18 months after it was handed over to the French Navy for testing.
The Suffren-class submarines will replace the existing Rubis- and Amethyste-class and provide France with an enhanced sub-surface attack capability.
Duguay-Trouin was laid down on 26 June 2009 and had been due to be delivered in 2022, while the next boat Tourville was laid down on 28 June 2011. The first four are all at different stages of construction and are planned to be delivered by 2025.
All six SSNs are planned to be handed over by 2030. Tourville was rolled out on 20 July 2023 and is expected to start sea trials in 2024.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Coast Guard orders 10 additional Fast Response Cutters
The USCG exercised a $507 million contract option for the acquisition of 10 extra FRCs. This new order will raise the total number of Sentinel-class vessels procured by the service from 67 to 77.
-
DSEI 2025: Red Cat expands into USV production with focus on combat-proven technology
At DSEI 2025, Red Cat outlines its expansion from UAVs into uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), positioning itself as a multi-domain defence provider spanning land, sea, and air.
-
Royal Canadian Navy will start operating class 2 UAVs in 2028
Acquired under Canada’s Department of National Defence ISTAR UAS project, the drones will be deployed from the Halifax-class frigates.
-
US Navy prepares next step of the F-35 Block 4 upgrade while GAO predicts acquisition delays
The US Navy published a pre-solicitation notice of intent for the third phase of the F-35 Reprogramming Verification & Validation System. Meanwhile, with a five-year delay in its schedule, GAO foresees more postponements in the completion of the Block 4 effort.